Clock controlled switch



y 5, 1931- J. STEINHAUSER 1,804,125

CLOCK CONTROLLED SWITCH Filed May 18, 1928 1% m yfi in Jaw/714% Patented May 5, 1931 F ECE JQSEBH-g STEINHAUSER, ,or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS .CLOQK CONTROLLED SWITCH Application filed. May 18; 1928.

This invention relates generally toautomatic clock'cont'rolled electric switches and has particular reference to an auxiliary switch of this character which can readily be attached to anordinary alarm clock'for the 1 purpose of closingorfppening a switch in an electric circuit.

This invention is adaptable to either closing or opening a switch for circuits in elec- 1 tric signs or apartment building corridor lights and such operation being performed at a predetermined time by the control of a clock mechanism.

It is an object of my invention to provide a clock controlled switch utilizing the well known pull chain socket and providing means or a sleeve operable by the alarm winding key of a clock whereby such sleeve will be moved by said alarm winding key to throw the switch in said socket into closed or open position.

It is still further an important object of my invention to provide means for automatically retaining said sleeve in either closed or open position after it has been moved by the alarm Winding key of the clock so that the continued rotation of the winding key will not disturb such closed or open position of the switch socket.

my invention consists in the novel combination and construction of the parts and members shown in the accompanying drawing, described in the following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the illustrations, which show a preferred embodiment of my invention Fig. 1, is an elevation of a clock equipped 0 with my improved switch and showing a socket for connection to a diagrammatically.

shown electric light circuit. v

Fig. 2, shows a front elevation of the switch and clock alarm winding key, with parts broken to show detail of construction.

Fig. 3, is a side elevation of the switch and alarm winding key.

Fig. 4, is a side view of the sleeve attached to the chain of the chain pull socket in norclock mechanism at a predetermined time.

With the above and other objects in view Serial N0.278,712.

mal position or before operation by the alarm winding key.

Fig. 5, is a cross-section taken on line 55 of-Fig. 8, of the chain operatingsleeve showing its position during its movement to close5265 or open the circuit by displacement of the alarm WlHCllIlg key and showlug the-retaining member moved into place between the inner end of the 'sleeveand the chain pull socket whereby the predetermined closed or-i'oo open position offthe switch in thesocket will not be disturbed by the repeated engagement of the sleeve by the continuous rotation of inationand of channel cross-section to p18- vent sidemovement of the small operating .arm 14 during its engagement and movement "thereby.

' The switch mechanismwvithin the chain pull: socket' 15 is not shown being-now'wellvfio known in theart= and operating in a-manner whereby repeated pulls upon the'chain 15 will alternately open and close the circuit :therein.

The "standard removable head for the socket caslng 1s modified to form a cap-like closure 15 -:w1tha side opening for the cur- :rent conductors *16 andwith integral legs l5 ..for.attachment to the rear wall 10 of the clock 10. I

The forward end of the standard socket housing which includes the usual interiorly threaded portion for an electric lamp is cut away in the socket here shown, and after the terminals 15 and 15 are permanently connected with an interconnecting soldered wire 15 the open end of the socket is closed with a cover plate 15 which is rigidly secured to the socket casing.

Theconductors 16 may lead-t0 any electrical circuit or device which is in circuit with the switch of the socket 15 but are here shown connected to a two part socket 1'? within the circuit 18 of an electric light 19. An auxiliary switch 20 is shown for the circuit 18 which may be omitted, if desired.

The chain 15 leading from the switch within the socket 15 is provided at its outer end with a sleeve 21; the chain 15 extending into the interior passage of the sleeve and being securely held therein by a set screw 21. A slightly curved operating arm 14: is secured to the end of the sleeve 21 and extends within the path of the curved wings 12 of the clock alarm key 12.

The normal position of the knob 21 is shown in Fig. l, and it will be readily understood that the switch in the socket 15 may be set so that a pull or rather side displacement of the sleeve 21, as shown in Fig. 5, will either close or open the circuit. Fig. 5, shows a portion of one of the wings 12 displacing the sleeve 21 in a manner to open or close the switch within the socket 15.

To maintain the switch within the socket 15 in such closed or open position, I provide a semi-circular or arcuate retaining member 22 which is pivotally mounted at 23 to the side of the socket casing. The free end of the member 22 is connected to one end of the coil spring 24, the other end of which spring is secured to the extension 15 ot the cover plate 15 It will now be readily apparent from the illustrations, that the pull of the tension spring 24: will readily cause a movement of the arcuate retaining member beneath one side of the inner end of the sleeve upon its displacement by the wing 12 of the key 12 as shown in Fig. 5, to thus retain the sleeve 21 and operating chain 15 against full return movement which it permissible, would reset the switch for opposite movement so that the successive engagement of the knob operating arm 14lby the wings 12 cannot now change the position of the switch in the socket 15.

I claim 1. A circuit closing or opening mechanism comprising a time controlled rotatable memher, a housing having an electric switch therein adapted to close or open an electric circuit, movable means positioned outside of said housing and operatively connected to said switch and adapted upon displacement to operate said switch, a pivotally mounted arm, and a spring for said arm, said spring being adapted to cause a movement of said arm into position against said movable means upon displacement of said movable means by said rotatable member to thereby retain said movable means in displaced position whereby the switch in said housing will be retained in either closed or. open circuit position.

2. The combination with a'time-controlled rotatable member, of a housing having an electric switch therein adapted upon repeated operation to close or open electric circuit, said housing having switch operating means comprising a spring-influenced flexible member projecting eXteriorly of said housing and a sleeve connected to the exterior of said flexible member, said sleeve extending into the path of said rotatable member and being displaceable by said rotatable member to move said flexible member, and an instrumentality operatively associated with said sleeve and adapted to retain said sleeve in displaced position upon the displacement of said sleeve by said rotating member.

8. The combination as embodied in claim 2, and including resilient means for said instrumentality to cause its automatic move ment into operative position responsive to the movement of said sleeve by said rotatable member.

In witness whereof I aitix my signature.

JOSEPH STEINHAUSER. 

